Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-08-20


made mistake To these Garfield al
ways replied that he knew THE boy, and
that if he was immature he was discreet.
Garfield treated Brown more like a rela-
tive than like an employee, and with the
rest of the family he was looked upon as
one of them.
When General Garfield went into the
White House Mollie was a schoolgirl of
fourteen. She was charming miss then.
She gavepromise, not of great beauty, but
! of utmost attraotiveness of face and form,
and In disposition was called by all her
associates one of the sweetest of girls.
Her fathers place as President never af-
fected her simplicity of manner or her
cordiality with the humblest other mates.
She used to go tripping up Fifteenth
street to school with lot of schoolmates,
dressed more plainly than almost any one
OF them. She was merry girl, possessed
OF some of her fathers playfuIness and
love of fun, and even at that time thought
Stanley Brown the most manly young
fellow whom she knew. At least so she
told her mates. 1t was simply the ad
miration and liking of a school girl, too
young to have ever had thought of Sc
rious affection for anyone beyond the
family circle.
Miss Mollie's most attractive features
were remarkably expressive and beauti-
full eyes and most charming smile.
Those who were accustomed to see her in
all moods said there were times when she
looked very like her father, and the re-
| semblancc to Grandmother Garfield was
regarded by old family friends as very
great.
Even at that schoolgirl period Brown
found great pleasure in Miss Mollies com
pany, and though he was usually the
most diffident of men in women's society,
he was wholly at ease with Miss Mollie
He was fond of her, and the wise matrons
of Washington, who see everything with
a womauly match-maker's eye, whispered
among themselves that, before Garfield
quilted the White House, there would be
a match made between his daughter and
his secretary.
There was good deal of love making
reported as going on in the White House
at the time. General Garfeld's eldest
son was quite attentive TO his cousin,
Miss Rockwell, the daughter of Colonel
Rockwell, and the society papers an
nounced their engagement, though it
was reported afterward that this an
nouncement was premature. Mr. Brown
took part in the social pleasures of the
young people when he had opportunity,
and if there were partners for games or
walks he was very apt to be found with
Miss Mollie.
By General Garfeld's family Brown
was regarded almost as one of them.
Mrs. Garfield was especially fond of him.
She thought him most exemplary young
man, and often said that his influence
was for good. After General Garfield
was shot Browns relations with the
family became very intimate, and by his
most assiduous devotion to Garfield
which caused him many sleeplesss nights
and great labor, besides carrying much Of
the burden of the Executive Office, he
gained the esteem of Mrs. Garfield SO
greatly that she said after Garfeld's death
that the young man had come to seem to
her almost like son. He practically be-
came one of the family at that time. and
during all of Garfeld's sickness, and after
wards at the funeral, his Tenderness and
care for Miss Mollie were delicate and
constant.
There was no doubt then that the
young girl had already won Browns af-
fection, though of course she was not
then aware of it. And it was the opinion
of many who were in position to see them
that he would, when she became of prop
er age, ask her to be his wife.
There was brief separation after the
family had settled in Cleveland. Brown
had been intrusted by Mrs. Garfield with
much of the business of settling the
estate, and while that was being done he
was member of her family. Miss
MoIIie returned to her school books and
Brown went to Washington, where he
became a banker. But he did not re-
main in that business long. He sold out
his interest and returned to Mrs. Gar
fields family, becoming, it was said, her
confidential agent and assistant in the
management of her fortune, which was
more than half million dollars.
Since then he has been with the Gar